9 Meatloaf Makeovers

At many dinner tables, the term "meatloaf" strikes fear in the hearts of even the most hardened palates. I have spent considerable time trying to bring peace among those who in my family who love and hate this classic American dish. Even for those who crave this American delicacy, there's the problem of how to prepare it without the fat and calories that wreek havoc on your health goals. Start by substituting lean meats, whole grains and vegetables. Use fresh spices and dried herbs to give it an international feel. Did you know meatloaf can even be made without meat? Have fun in your kitchen and enjoy these healthy meatloaf SparkRecipes.

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Comments

We eat meatloaf almost weekly and it is gluten-free. I start with grass fed beef then add one egg, ground fresh pepper, home made seasoned salt, onion powder, garlic powder, ketchup, thyme, paprika, tarragon, parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, a touch of olive oil, crushed lentil crackers and crushed cheddar Nut Thins. The hubby can't handle fresh onions and peppers in his food because they will give him heart burn. Our oldest daughter doesn't care for any kind of meatloaf but will eat this. I divide this into four mini-loaves so they cook in about 20 minutes.

Another recipe I ate growing up for meatloaf was to add a can of Spanish rice to a package of ground beef. It was simple and an easy way for my mom to feed our large family. I haven't had it in years but would try it again if the hubby would eat rice.
- 2/13/2013 7:53:39 AM

Yum. My Mom used to make meatloaf at least once a week when I was a kid. I haven't had it hardly at all since then...maybe 4 decades! I think I need to make some meatloaf again, at least once in awhile. These recipes sound good to me.
- 12/23/2012 7:57:54 PM

My DH doesn't really like meatloaf, but he eats it and then has meatloaf sandwiches the next couple of days. I like the sounds of the Mexican Meatloaf and printed the recipe. 2 loaves is a little much so I will cut the recipe in half. I am sure it freezes well, but in case we don't like it :) In my meatloaf I use lean ground beef, onions, oatmeal, an egg and that's it. I put ketchup and mustard on my cooked serving.
- 12/23/2012 6:44:30 PM

Generally I have liked the way my wife now adds oatmeal to the meat loaf. Its good- what I don't care for is when people put tomato soup and or other things on top of the meat loaf. I also like to put hot sauce on mine.
- 12/23/2012 12:21:23 AM

I think I'll give most of these variations a try. My mother and grandmother frequently used oatmeal in their meatloves, and I hated them. Ready to try it as an adult, though. Looking forward to the variety these recipes can add to my diet.
- 12/22/2012 4:05:09 PM

I made meatloaf a couple of days ago from ground chuck. Haven't had it in a while with beef. Mainly use turkey. I added bell peppers, onions, can of tomato soup and a lot of spices. I drizzled a little bbq sauce on the end my son would eat from but I haven't had anymore. Oh and I added flax and a large egg to help it stick together. Normally I use crackers and crushed tomatoes in my turkey meatloaf as well as tomato soup, the peppers and onions. But I needed these recipes the other day lol. I'm thinking that I'll buy a WW dinner the next time I have a taste for meatloaf because I didn't like the effect eating the ground chuck had on my leg. I like eating fish, Pollock to be exact. Thank YOU for these recipes! Merry Christmas! :)
- 12/21/2012 8:03:47 PM

I actually made meat loaf last weekend...it's a favorite around here! I use really lean beef or turkey, spices, chopped onion, grated carrots, an egg, and oatmeal (quick oats). I also like to add some Worcestershire sauce to the mix before baking. I have also made it with applesauce, and sometimes add raisins or dried cranberries. Yum!
- 12/21/2012 4:34:57 PM

Back in the good old days, my mom used to use a packet of instant onion soup in our meatloaf for seasoning. She also used wet Wonder bread and an egg for binder.

I haven't made meatloaf in a while. When I did, I liked using finely chopped parsley, minced onions, peppers, etc... oh and ketchup. I don't use the Wonder bread. I use bread crumbs, but I still need the ketchup. It helps keep the meatloaf moist. - 12/21/2012 12:30:40 PM

This all looks fantastic. I love meatloaf and have missed it since I don't have a working oven at this time. Love the crock pot idea. I need to think of my crock pot more often.
- 12/21/2012 10:48:13 AM

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